Students, community exemplify service to others

Public schools thrive in caring communities like Leander ISD. More than 12,000 parents and community members commit thousands of service hours to our schools each year.

In a school district with 42 schools across nine municipalities and 200 square miles, one of our best resources is the fantastic Council of PTAs, which is a collective of parent representatives from all LISD schools. This group has been at the forefront of service to our students, spearheading districtwide programs like the PTA Clothes Closet.

This outreach effort provides gently worn, clean clothing to students of all ages, from pre-K to high school. The only qualification for families to shop at the clothes closet is that their student attends an LISD school. You can find the PTA Clothes Closet in a portable building near 300 S. West Drive in Leander, just north of Leander Middle School. During the school year, hours of operation are 10 a.m.–noon every Tuesday and one Saturday each month.

LISD also values its partnership with a group called Education Connection, which matches mentors with students to support reading and social skills. These trained community members volunteer at least 30 minutes each week to visit with students, build relationships and support our teachers.

Our community’s lead in placing service above self sets a tone for our students. Cedar Park High School student Lance White turned his cancer diagnosis into a call to action. After learning about his illness, Lance used his request to the Make a Wish Foundation to launch Lift Brigade, which supports pediatric cancer patients during their hospitalizations. You can find out more about Lance’s fundraising and donation efforts at Liftbrigade.org.

As we continue through the winter holidays and into a new year, full of resolutions and promise, my challenge to every member of our community is to find a way to contribute to making our neighborhoods and schools a positive place for kids. Thank you to our volunteers and student service clubs for making Leander ISD a destination for families committed to supporting schools with one vision and one purpose, for #1LISD.